Bodily attached hoop toy



'OCII. 5

BODILY ATTACHED HOOP TOY Fijled Jan. 4, 1965 I INVENTOR.

vw w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,345,772 BODILY ATTACHED HOOP TOYGeorge Sam, 1350 N. Broadway, Salem, Ill. 62881 Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser.No. 423,262

2 Claims. (CI. 46-51) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto a hoop actuator to be worn projecting from the midsection of a userand is characterized by the provision of an enlarged outer endpreventing accidental disengagement of the hoop, said large outer endgradually merging with a section of substantially less diameter which isturn gradually enlarges to the body contacting portion thus preventingthe hoop from contacting the body of the user.

This invention relates to a toy which is designed to provide the userwith both diverting amusement and healthful exercise. v

It has been known heretofore to provide hoop rolling devices and the useof a large hoop loosely encircling the 'body is exemplified by theWell-known Hula Hoop which achieved popularity in recent wears. However,these devices of the prior art generally involved rolling of the hoop ina plane normal to the plane of the body or the axis of the limb of theuser.

The present invention involves apparatus whereby the hoop is rotated ina plane generally parallel to the plane of the users body when thelatter is moved in a gyratory fashion. This is accomplished by removablyaffixing a hoop supporting and actuating member to the midsection of thewearers body and projecting therefrom, and then moving the body toeffect rotation of a hoop hung on said member.

The hoop is caused to rotate by gyrations of the body which effectmovement of the projecting member, which movement is transmitted to theinner side of the hoop. This operation provides interesting effectswhich maybe varied by manipulation of the users body and suchmanipulation affords healthful exercise of many muscles and particularlythose of the abdominal section and adjacent back muscles.

The projecting member is preferably of a conical shape with a divergingfrusto-conical extremity providing an intermediate portion of smallerdiameter whereby the hoop is retained on said member when at rest.

The invention (in a preferred form) is shown on the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view in perspective showing the toy of this inventionin position for use on the body of a user.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device of this invention withthe hoop attaching means fragmentarily shown.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The toy of this invention is adapted to be attached to the body of auser as generally shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

This toy consists of a hoop supporting actuator generally designated bythe reference numeral 1 and attach- 3,345,772. Patented Oct. 10, 1967able to the body of the user by strips 2 and 3 which may be joined attheir outer ends for adjustable attachment by a usual buckle or otherfastening means (not shown) or which may be integral and of elasticmaterial to form a single loop adjustably and snugly encircling the bodyof the wearer.

The hoop 4 is supported by the projecting hoop sup porting meamber 1 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and upon movement of the body to effect gyratorymovement of the projecting member, the hoop may be rotated in a planeparallel generally to the plane of the body of the user and whilerotating may be completely free of the hoop supporting member except atintermittent points of contact where impetus is given thereto bymovements of said member.

The hoop supporting member 1 preferably may be made of molded plastic asshown in FIG. 3 and consists of an inner or body contacting portion 1Aof conical shape with its base abutting the body of the user. As shownin FIG. 3, this member 1A converges to an area intermediate the lengthof the supporting member and then diverges to provide a secondfrusto-conical member 1B which terminates in a rounded portion 1C. Theslots 1D in the base of the member I afford means for attaching thestraps or fastening means 2 and 3.

The hoop may be made of molded plastic or other relatively lightmaterial.

It is further obvious that although the supporting member 1 has beenshown and described as being made of a suitable molded plastic, othermaterials may be used in the construction of this supporting member andmaterials other than molded plastics may be used in the construction ofthe hoop 4.

In use, the device is attached to the body of the user as shown inFIG. 1. The body is then moved by a gymtory motion of the midsection togive impetus to the hoop which soon may be rotated about the supportingmember. Variations may be accomplished due to the conical surfacesafforded by the portions 1A and 1B of the supporting member andmanipulation and actuation of the device affords not only interestingresults but healthful exercise.

Due to the enlarged inner and outer ends of the hoop supporting memberor actuator the hoop is restrained from accidental disengagement duringuse and is prevented from contacting the body of the user. At the sametime, the gradually increasing diameter at each end and the curvingsurfaces of those gradually increasing portions permits of a degree ofdesired inward and outward movement of the hoop.

I am aware that details of construction may be varied without departingfrom the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than indicated by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hoop support and actuator comprising a unitary member consisting ofa first frusto-conical portion having a large open end having edge meansadapted to engage the front midsection of the body of a user and asecond frusto-conical portion having a small end joining the outer endof said first portion and a second large end at the outer extremity ofsaid member, said portions providing a continuously curving surfacehaving a substantially smaller diameter intermediate the ends of saidmember and attaching means including a pair of oppositely disposed strapslots and a strap secured adjacent the edge means of said firstfrusto-conical portion and a hoop, said hoop and surface comprisingmeans adapted to produce parallel movement of said hoop with respect tothe body of the user.

2. A hoop support and actuator as claimed in claim 3, said unitarymember being of molded plastic, said large end preventing engagement ofthe hoop with the body of 10 the user and said second large end preventaccidental displacement of the hoop from the actuator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner,

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HOOP SUPPORT AND ACTUATOR COMPRISING A UNITARY MAMBER CONSISTING OFA FIRST FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION HAVING A LARGE OPEN END HAVING EDGE MEANSADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE FRONT MIDSECTION OF THE BODY OF A USER AND ASECOND FRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION HAVING A SMALL END JOINING THE OUTER ENDOF SAID FIRST PORTION AND A SECOND LARGE END AT THE OUTER EXTREMITY OFSAID MEMBER, SAID PORTIONS PROVIDING A CONTINUOUSLY CURVING SURFACEHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER DIAMETER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAIDMEMBER AND ATTACHING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED STRAPSLOTS AND A STRAP SECURED ADJACENT THE EDGE MEANS OF SAID FIRSTFRUSTO-CONICAL PORTION AND A HOOP, SAID LOOP AND SURFACE COMPRISINGMEANS ADAPTED TO PRODUCE PARALLEL MOVEMENT OF SAID HOOP WITH RESPECT TOTHE BODY OF THE USER.